Public holidays Cyprus in 2019 and 2020

The calendar of public holidays in Cyprus includes religious as well as profane celebrations. The latter stem from both Cypriot and Greek traditions. Cyprus, much like other Greek communities outside Greece, celebrate the Ochi Day.

Cyprus celebrates independence on 1 of October.

See below the dates for Cyprus public holidays in 2019 and 2020.

2019

Holiday

2020

1 of January (Tuesday)

New Year’s Day

1 of January (Wednesday)

6 of January (Sunday)

Epiphany

6 of January (Monday)

11 of March (Monday)

Clean Monday (Green Monday)

2 of March (Monday)

25 of March (Monday)

Greek Independence Day

25 of March (Wednesday)

1 of April (Monday)

Cyprus National Day

1 of April (Wednesday)

26 of April (Friday)

Good Friday (Orthodox)

17 of April (Friday)

27 of April (Saturday)

Holy Saturday (Orthodox)

18 of April (Saturday)

28 of April (Sunday)

Easter Sunday (Orthodox)

19 of April (Sunday)

29 of April (Monday)

Easter Monday (Orthodox)

20 of April (Monday)

1 of May (Wednesday)

Labour Day

1 of May (Friday)

17 of June (Monday)

Pentecoste Monday (Orthodox)

8 of June (Monday)

15 of August (Thursday)

Dormition of the Theotokos/ Assumption

15 of August (Saturday)

1 of October (Tuesday)

Cyprus Independence Day

1 of October (Thursday)

28 of October (Monday)

Greek National Day / Ochi Day

28 of October (Wednesday)

24 of December (Tuesday)

Christmas Eve

24 of December (Thursday)

25 of December (Wednesday)

Christmas Day

25 of December (Friday)

26 of December (Thursday)

Boxing Day

26 of December (Saturday)

Cyprus National Day vs. Cyprus Independence Day
1 of April and 1 of October are two dates of particular importance in Cyprus, a country which spent centuries under the domain of other world empires.

While it wasn’t until the 1st of October, 1960, when Cyprus gained sovereignty from the Great Britain, the events which laid foundation to the Cypriot independence also deserved a place in the country’s history. On the 1st of April, 1955, a guerrilla organisation, EOKA (anagram for Ethniki Organosis Kyprion Agoniston, meaning National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters) was established, unifying Cyprus’ fight against the British colonization. The determination of EOKA forces during the years to follow led to the peace talks between Cyprus, Great Britain, Greece and Turkey and, eventually, to the creation of an independent state.

While the 1st of April is usually a relaxed holiday spent with family, on the 1s of October Cypriots flood the streets of the islands major cities to celebrate freedom and assist military parades.

Clean MondayThe first day of the Orthodox Lent period (the period of reflection, penance, prayer and fasting as a preparation for Easter) is celebrated in Cyprus on the 7th Monday before Easter and referred to as ‘Clean Monday’, ‘Green Monday’, ‘Pure Monday’ or ‘Ash Monday’ (in the resemblance of the Catholic Ash Wednesday.

Vegetarian picnics and flying kits are the traditional way of celebrating Green Monday in Cyprus.

Special services are held in churches on Sunday preceding Clean Monday, emphasising forgiveness and inviting the congregation to confess. Cleaning houses on Monday is a Clean Monday tradition, although majority of Cypriots opts for picnics with no meat or dairy menus. Children usually fly kites on the day. Shellfish dishes, often very elaborate, are prepared for festive dinners.